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Southampton striker Shane Long is reportedly being watched by his former side Reading ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

The Lowdown: Long set to become free agent

The 35-year-old veteran first joined the Premier League side from Hull City back in 2014 for a fee believed to be in the region of £12m, where he’s since gone on to make 244 appearances for the south coast outfit during his eight-year spell at the club.

Despite his long-term service though, the forward’s current contract with the Saints is set to expire at the end of the month, making him a free agent to any clubs interested, and it would appear that a familiar suitor has emerged.

The Latest: Reading monitoring Long’s situation

In a new article published by Berkshire Live, it’s claimed that Paul Ince’s Reading are ‘monitoring’ their former player’s situation at Southampton ahead of making a ‘potential move’ for Long in time for the new season.

The sources further states that the Irishman is ‘expected to leave’ Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad following the conclusion of his deal, with him now having to weigh up what will likely be the ‘final move’ of his career before hanging up his boots for good.

Due to the Championship side’s financial transfer problems, they are currently only able to sign free agents or loan players this summer, and can offer them no more than a one-year contract.

The Verdict: A Royal reunion?

Long has significantly dropped down the pecking order under the Austrian boss, having made just 13 top-flight outings this season, netting one goal during that time, as per Transfermarkt.

The 88-cap international, who was once hailed for being an “incredibly talented” player by his former teammate Charlie Austin, enjoyed a hugely successful previous spell with the second tier outfit, recording 82 goal contributions over six years.

A former Reading fan favourite, it now looks highly unlikely that Long will be staying at Southampton beyond the summer, and if this interest is serious, we could be seeing a Royal reunion in weeks to come.

In other news… it’s been reported that the Saints have given the green light for one of their players to leave on loan during the upcoming window.

A big Rangers update has emerged on Leon Balogun and his future at Ibrox under Giovanni van Bronckhorst heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Record, Rangers have set a meeting with the centre-back to discuss a new deal with the Glasgow giants.

He is out of contract this year and the Gers will now hold talks with the 6 foot 2 brute to see whether or not they can come to an agreement on extending his terms.

Ibrox will be rocking

Van Bronckhorst can get Ibrox rocking by securing a deal to keep Balogun in Glasgow heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

He is a crucial player for the club and retaining his services would be a huge boost for the club, particularly given Connor Goldson’s expected departure at the end of the month.

Former Gers man Alex Rae previously dubbed him a “tremendous addition” to Rangers, having joined on a free transfer from Wigan in the summer of 2020. Since arriving, he has played 65 games for the Light Blues in all competitions as he impressed under Steven Gerrard and carried that form over to his time with van Bronckhorst. 

In the 2020/21 campaign, he averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.13 in the Premiership as he helped the team to win the Scottish title.

He was reliable, once again, in the top-flight for the Gers in 2021/22 as he was a defensive rock for Rangers…

These statistics show that he was a strong, commanding, presence at the back for van Bronckhorst as he won the ball back for his team on a consistent basis and won the majority of his individual battles.

Balogun also played a key role on the way to the Europa League final. He made ten appearances in Europe and averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.96 as he chipped in with two goals and made an outstanding 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game.

The Nigeria international has proven his quality domestically and in Europe and that is why supporters will be rocking with joy at Ibrox if van Bronckhorst can agree a deal to keep the defender at the club.

He is a reliable, quality, player to call upon when needed and losing him this summer would be a big blow as there is no guarantee that any replacement coming in will be able to offer the same experience and defensive nous.

AND in other news, Rangers can land dream Kent heir in deal for £1.5m “asset” who can “affect the game”…

Wolves are closing in on the £10million signing of Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, according to journalist Alan Nixon.

The Lowdown: New goalkeeping incoming?

Bruno Lage will be eyeing up new signings all over the pitch this summer, as he looks to improve on his side’s eventual 10th-place finish in the Premier League.

One position that needs to be filled is second-choice goalkeeper, with John Ruddy leaving Molineux once his contract expires at the end of next month.

It now looks as though Wolves may already have the veteran’s replacement sorted.

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The Latest: Nixon drops Slonina claim

According to Nixon on Twitter, and on his Patreon, Wanderers look set to snap up Slonina from MLS side Chicago imminently:

“Wolves set to win £10 million keeper race.”

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The Verdict: Ideal Sa backup

Slonina looks like he could be a perfect understudy to Jose Sa from next season onwards, having emerged as an exciting ‘keeper in America –  Chicago interim manager Frank Klopas described his potential as ‘scary’.

At just 18 years of age, he is seen as a potential future No.1 for the USA and already has 23 appearances to his name for his club side, despite his tender years.

Bringing in young talent is always exciting to see at Wolves, suggesting that long-term planning is taking place, rather than simply signing another player of Ruddy’s ilk.

In other news, Wolves are reportedly keen on signing a promising defender. Find out who it is here.

Dubey, Kartikeya, Patidar, Raghuwanshi, Gaurav Yadav and Shubham Sharma all made crucial contributions

Afzal Jiwani26-Jun-2022

Yash Dubey

In 28 first-class innings since debuting four years ago, Yash Dubey hadn’t opened until midway through the 2021-22 season. A sprightly 85 against Meghalaya at No. 7 happened to be the springboard for his elevation as the team’s opener. And in his very first outing in the new role, Dubey made a career-best 289 against Kerala in a must-win game. But the best was perhaps reserved for the last, his first-innings century in the final helping MP squeeze Mumbai. He was one of five batters to have made over 600 runs this season. He ended with 614 runs at an average of 76.75 with two centuries.

Kumar Kartikeya

Having left home nine years ago to “achieve something in life,” Kumar Kartikeya is set to finally return to his hometown in Uttar Pradesh as an IPL player and a Ranji champion. In his very first game this season, Kartikeya left a mark against Gujarat by picking up a match-winning five-for while defending 194. A breakthrough IPL season later – he first joined Mumbai Indians as a net bowler and was later drafted into the main squad following an injury to Arshad Khan – Kartikeya returned for the Ranji Trophy knockouts and made heads turn. He picked up six wickets to knock Punjab out of the quarter-final. He continued his stellar bowling and picked up a five-for against Bengal to lead MP into only their second Ranji final. He bowled only traditional left-arm orthodox, unlike in the IPL where he was known to mix in all of his wristspinning variations, Kartikeya’s 32 scalps made him the second-highest wicket-taker this season.Related

• 'I believe I can do it' – Patidar continues steady rise with big century against New Zealand A

• How Kumar Kartikeya went from left-arm orthodox to left-arm everything

• How the 'Alex Ferguson of the Ranji Trophy' moulded Madhya Pradesh into a title-winning unit

• 'He hadn't eaten lunch for a year' – The sacrifices of Kumar Kartikeya

• Dubey, Shubham, Patidar fashion MP's maiden Ranji Trophy title

Rajat Patidar

May 25: First uncapped player to hit an IPL ton in a playoff game. June 25: Memorable century to help MP set up a match-winning first-innings lead in the Ranji final. The runs keep flowing for Patidar, who only in April was sitting at home and wondering what he’d done wrong. Then, an IPL call-up came his way when Royal Challengers Bangalore needed a replacement and life hasn’t been the same since. IPL form aside, Patidar crossed fifty in every innings barring one, in the semi-final. With five half-centuries and two hundreds, Patidar was second in the season’s run charts behind Mumbai’s Sarfaraz Khan.

Akshat Raghuwanshi

The 18-year-old has been touted by many as the find of MP this season. A stroke maker in the middle order, Raghuwanshi had struggled to even nail down a spot in the state’s under-19 team until Pandit, who had heard of him from someone, watched him bat live in a practice game that he was umpiring in. Having turned down a plumb lbw appeal that would’ve sent him back for a duck, the coach saw Raghuwanshi smash 165. He was immediately summoned to the senior squad, and here he is, finishing with a century and three half-centuries, including a momentum changing knock in the semi-final, in his maiden Ranji season.

Gaurav Yadav

If batters win you games, bowlers win you championships. With Avesh away on India duty, Gaurav Yadav was given a long run this season, and he impressed with his swing and seam even on the most docile pitches. Few that were there can forget the spell to Prithvi Shaw on the opening morning of the final, where he beat both the inside and outside edge five times in a single over before eventually having him clean bowled. Yadav finished as MP’s leading wicket-taker among seamers and the fourth-best overall.

Shubham Sharma

He finished with 608 runs at an average of 76. This includes four hundreds, thereby confirming his appetite for big runs. He started the season with a 92 against Gujarat and ended it with a hundred when it mattered the most. Adding 222 runs with Dubey, he gave Mumbai a taste of its own medicine in batting long and scoring big. Although he couldn’t stay on to hit the winning runs, he had done enough to make sure his team was miles ahead of the opposition even on the final day.

“I worked on my off-side game before this season because bowlers had started bowling wide with an off-side field”

Hemant Brar30-Apr-2022After Rahul Tewatia helped Gujarat Titans pull off yet another odds-defying chase, this time against Royal Challengers Bangalore, everyone from commentators to Twitteratis started calling him Iceman. His captain Hardik Pandya, too, approved of the moniker. “If you can finish games like this, you have to be super cool,” Pandya said at the post-match presentation.However, if Tewatia is to be believed, he isn’t as cool in the middle as he appears to be.”I cannot say I am cool while batting,” he told Star Sports after being named the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 25-ball 43. “I might look cool but inside my head, many things are going on, like from which over to execute my plans, which bowler to take chances against. I think a lot, and then whatever plan I come with, I follow that.”At the Brabourne Stadium, Titans needed 71 from the last six overs with Tewatia and David Miller at the crease. The two hit nine fours and three sixes between them, adding 79 off 40 balls, and wrapped up the win with three balls to spare.Until recently, Tewatia has predominantly been a leg-side player, and the Royal Challengers seamers tried to take advantage of that. With the long boundary on the off side, they bowled outside off, but Tewatia caught them by surprise.He steered Mohammed Siraj fine of third man four before creaming Josh Hazlewood through covers. On the last ball of the 19th over, now with the shorter boundary on the off side, he skipped down the track and launched Harshal Patel inside out over extra cover for a six.”I worked on my off-side game before this season,” Tewatia said, “because bowlers had started bowling wide with an off-side field. So I was like if I can find the gaps, I can get boundaries on the off side too. So now I can play on both sides of the wicket.”In the death overs, you have to play premeditated shots but I always have an eye on the field. In the end, you have to play according to the ball. I try if it’s an off stump ball, I play it on the off side. And if it’s on the leg stump, which is my area, I make sure not to miss out.”David Miller and Rahul Tewatia were at it again guiding the chase for Titans•BCCIBut is there a number in Tewatia’s mind he feels confident of chasing?”It’s not like how many I can chase down,” he said. “It’s all about the situation and conditions. On some pitches chasing 60 in five overs is a big ask. But these pitches are much easier to bat on. Here 60 in five overs is quite chaseable, and we have been doing that since the start of the season.”You need to have that belief on yourself that till you are at the crease, you can do it. If you have that belief, your confidence to finish the games automatically gets that extra boost.”Earlier in the tournament too, Tewatia has had crucial partnerships with Miller. In six innings, they have added 236 runs at a rate of 10.48 per over. According to Tewatia, the duo’s bonding, both on and off the field, has played a big part in that.”We have been playing together for quite some time now. We were together at Kings XI [Punjab] for one year and at Rajasthan Royals for two years. Off the field also we have good bonding, we spent a lot of time together. In net sessions, we discuss how we can finish a game. Now that we are doing it in the middle, it feels great.”

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes could depart Old Trafford at the end of this season for a cut-price fee with a supposed 'secret release clause' offering him an escape. The Portuguese midfielder has long been linked with a move away from the Red Devils and, this summer, had been the target of a series of unsuccessful approaches by clubs in the Saudi Pro League.

• Fernandes to become available on the cheap

  With United continuing to struggle for consistency in the Premier League this season, Fernandes may start to believe he is better off seeing out the latter end of his career elsewhere – and he could be presented that opportunity via a release clause. According to , from next summer, Fernandes can be bought for just £57 million ($75.9m/€65.6m) by clubs outside of England.

  The suggested fee is remarkably lower than what some Saudi clubs were floating United’s way earlier this year and could prove to be quite the coup for a side looking to bring in the excellent, albeit ageing, midfielder.

  The Red Devils will be desperate to keep their captain who, despite his mixed start to the season, is still one of their most important players. Finding a replacement who can produce for Ruben Amorim’s side immediately, for a similar fee to the release clause, may prove a very difficult task for United’s scouting department.

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  Fernandes reveals stance on Saudi switch

  Fernandes turned down a move away from Manchester last summer, choosing to remain at the struggling Red Devils. He explained that, because he loves the club and wants it to be successful, he never wanted to depart Old Trafford for Saudi Arabia.

  Fernandes previously quashed the idea that he turned the lucrative move to the Middle East down because he wanted to remain in contention for Portugal's World Cup squad, but he did leave the door open to a move away.

  “I didn't close the door on moving to Saudi Arabia because of the World Cup. That was never in my mind. I wanted to stay at Manchester United, and the club wanted me to stay. That's all there is to it,” he explained.

  Fernandes was speaking ahead of Portugal’s win over Ireland two weeks ago and hinted that his time at Old Trafford could come to an end soon. “I like to enjoy the moment, and the most important thing for me now is representing the national team,” he said. “It's a source of enormous pride to be able to play, and I still don't know if I'll play, let alone if I'll leave Manchester United in a year.”

• United at make or break point

  After two consecutive wins in the Premier League for the first time under Amorim, Fernandes and his team-mates will be determined to keep their momentum going. The Red Devils followed up their 2-0 victory over Sunderland at home with a surprise 2-1 victory away at Anfield last weekend to fire them back up the table.

  With 13 points from eight games, United sit in ninth place but just three points off second-placed Manchester City. It marks quite the turnaround for Amorim’s side, who looked in crisis after a disappointing loss to Brentford at the end of last month.

  Despite their uptick in performance levels, Fernandes is still not playing his best football in a Manchester United shirt. The captain has had to take on a deeper role to accommodate the new, flashy attacking signings and has seen his output drop.

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  Bogeymen Brighton come to Manchester

  United will have to overcome bogey team Brighton if they are to keep their winning streak going. The Red Devils have a shocking record against their upcoming opponents, losing six of their last seven games in the Premier League against the Seagulls.

  Brighton are also just one point behind Amorim’s men and can climb into the European qualification spots with a win. They will be hopeful that former United striker Danny Welbeck can also add to his recent goal-scoring form.

Anthony Gordon is convinced Newcastle United can be “anything we want to be” this season after playing a key role in igniting their Champions League campaign.

The 24-year-old England international started the Magpies’ impressive 4-0 victory over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels on Wednesday evening as Eddie Howe’s new-look side finally rediscovered its swagger.

Goals had been in short supply for much of the season previously, dulling the effect of good performances, in particular the 3-2 home defeat by champions Liverpool with 10 men following Gordon’s dismissal.

Asked what the season could hold for his team, Gordon replied: “We can be anything we want to be this season. We can beat anyone in any game.

“I never go into a game thinking we’re going to lose. As long as we can keep that defensive structure, that creativity, we can beat anyone.

“You saw that in the Liverpool game. For the first 30 minutes before I got sent off, we dominated them and they’re the champions of England.”

Better than Gordon: Newcastle star is now one of the best in the world

Newcastle romped to a big win in the Champions League this week, with Anthony Gordon starring.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 2, 2025

Newcastle had won just two of eight games in all competitions before they ran out at Lotto Park, and they did so knowing a failure to add to that tally after a 2-1 home defeat by Barcelona in their opening European fixture would significantly dent their qualification hopes.

However, they need not have worried as they turned in perhaps their most coherent display to date to brush aside a team that had won 3-1 at PSV Eindhoven last month.

Gordon reacts to comments on Newcastle striker Woltemade

Nick Woltemade’s cheeky 17th-minute flick, which went in off defender Kevin Mac Allister, set the ball rolling, and two penalties calmly dispatched by Gordon and a fourth goal from substitute Harvey Barnes completed the job in style.

Record signing Woltemade had found himself in Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s firing line ahead of kick-off with the Bayern Munich executive claiming Stuttgart had found “an idiot” to pay £69million for a player the German club had also been chasing.

£150,000-a-week Gordon’s assessment of Rummenigge’s comments on a man who scored for the third time in four starts, however, was withering.

Woltemade might have added to his tally had he managed to get his hands on either of the two penalties, but having seen former team-mate Alexander Isak boost his goals tally from the spot during his time on Tyneside, Gordon was in no mood to let that happen.

He said: “I don’t mind him wanting to take it. A striker should want to take it. But I’ve won too many and not taken them at this club. Now Alex is gone, they’re definitely mine.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a frustrating start to the campaign and Vitor Pereira has been dealt an injury blow involving one of his key players.

Wolves turn focus to Everton clash after defeat at Newcastle

The Old Gold are still to pick up a point in the Premier League and find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table after a frustrating 1-0 loss to Newcastle United last weekend.

Despite a closely contested encounter with plenty of solidity from both sides, Nick Woltemade’s header proved to be the difference, and in a way, he also highlighted Wolves’ lack of attacking potency.

Furious at how the flow of the match was halted, Pereira vented his frustration on Match of the Day by claiming the officials’ willingness to dish out yellow cards slowed his side’s momentum.

He said: “I’m very proud of my team. I think we competed since the first minute until the last minute in a difficult stadium.

“In the end I have a question. How is it possible for a team to press and be aggressive and win duels if we got yellow cards? It spoiled our game. It’s not possible to be aggressive and compete at this level with yellow cards in the middle of the field.”

Nevertheless, their lack of creativity has had a knock-on effect in the final third, something that will need to be rectified as Wolves gear up for a crucial double-header against Everton in the EFL Cup before Leeds United visit Molineux this weekend.

Dele Alli could provide an out-of-window dose of inspiration for the Old Gold. However, Pereira has now been dealt another blow in his search for coolness in front of goal that will frustrate supporters.

Wolves fear Jorgen Strand Larsen injury is now 'more serious'

As relayed by The Yorkshire Evening Post, Wolves may be without Jorgen Strand Larsen for the visit of Leeds this weekend, after Pereira admitted last week the Norway international’s Achilles injury is ‘more serious’ than first feared.

Explaining that the timeline for his return can’t be set in stone, he said after Saturday’s defeat to Newcastle: “Day by day, it’s his Achilles tendon, we cannot push — we need to be patient.”

Wolves' most expensive signings of all time

Football FanCast takes a detailed look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings of all time.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 5, 2025

During the summer, Strand Larsen was the subject of significant interest from Newcastle and was valued at around £65 million by the Old Gold, hence why he ended up remaining at Molineux.

In a frustrating turn of events, the 25-year-old may be missing a while longer and unable to add to his return of 16 goals and five assists in 41 appearances across all competitions since joining initially on loan from Celta Vigo last summer.

Tolu Arokodare made his debut in the defeat at St James’ Park, and he may now be called upon for the coming run of matches following his move to the West Midlands from Genk.

Manchester United's newest star Senne Lammens supposedly became a goalkeeper to 'avoid running and being substituted', with his brother revealing the secrets of the Belgian stopper. Signed from Royal Antwerp this summer for £18.2 million ($24.5m), the 23-year-old has quickly caught attention with his commanding presence between the sticks. His clean sheet on debut in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland before the international break gave United fans a glimpse of his potential.

• Lammens' trial of character awaits at Liverpool

  On Sunday, the young Belgian goalkeeper will walk out at Anfield to take on champions Liverpool, in what promises to be the most intimidating test of his career. However, away from the glitz of the Premier League, his footballing story started in Erpe-Mere, a quiet town nestled between Brussels and Ghent. There, in the modest surroundings of KRC Bambrugge, one of four local clubs that would later merge to form Erpe-Mere United, he kicked his first football. The sport runs deep in the Lammens family. His great uncle Paul is now the honorary chairman of the club, while uncle Steven serves as the sporting director. His father, Eddy, a former Bambrugge player, used to coach youth teams that included Senne’s elder brother, Tom. And it was Tom who first noticed Senne’s unusual determination to stand out right from his childhood. 

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  Lazy Lammens turns goalkeeper

  For the first few years, Lammens played as a striker. Fast, physical, and strong, he was a nightmare for defenders. But at just 10 years old, everything changed, not because of a tactical tweak, but because he disliked running. 

  In an interview with Tom revealed why Senne went in goal: "Mainly because he didn’t want to get substituted. He also didn’t like all the running in training." 

  His father, suspecting this might just be a phase, sent him to a goalkeeper training camp, thinking it would cure his boredom. Instead, it did the opposite. Senne thrived as his height and agility made him a natural fit. 

  "As a player, he was always quite tall and strong for his age, and had a powerful shot," Tom added.

  After two years at his hometown club, Lammens followed his brother to F.C.V. Dender, a professional side not far from home. It was there that he began his transformation into one of Belgium’s most promising young goalkeepers. From Dender, he progressed rapidly through the youth ranks, catching the attention of scouts and earning a move to Club Brugge, where he developed his reputation for commanding his area and handling pressure. When Royal Antwerp offered him first-team football, he seized the opportunity, and his performances there soon put him on United’s radar.

• Courtois has some advice for Lammens

  Ahead of the clash at Anfield, Lammens received some tongue-in-cheek advice from Belgium team-mate Thibaut Courtois, who knows the challenge of Liverpool’s fortress. 

  "It’s a hard stadium," he told Belgian media. "Maybe I should tell him to clap the home fans when he arrives at the Kop!"

  Courtois who has 107 caps for Belgium and two Champions League titles with Real Madrid, made clear the enormity of the task. "His first game was a flavour of what United will get," he said. "He’s a tall guy, he is not afraid to come on crosses, and he’s a kid with personality. I’m sure he can do a good job. He has a tough game this weekend, so I hope if he plays, it will go well for him. All the best to him."

  The Real Madrid star will visit Anfield on November 4 for a Champions League fixture and added: "I will go there myself in a few weeks. It’s always a tough game there, and I guess Liverpool also have to bounce back after losing a few games."

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  A monumental challenge for Lammens

  Liverpool’s recent form has been shaky, with three defeats in a row across all competitions, but that makes them even more dangerous. Whereas, for United, it’s about momentum. Amorim’s side have found some rhythm, thanks to a win over Sunderland, and with the backline looking solid, they’ll count on their new Belgian shot-stopper to hold firm under relentless pressure. For a 23-year-old who once switched to goal just to avoid running laps, this could be a night that defines him.

Manchester United are now racing Chelsea for the signature of an attacking midfielder, who has been compared to former midfielder Thiago Alcântara.

Sesko tipped to struggle after Man Utd fail to sign playmaker

Former Man United man Louis Saha has suggested Benjamin Sesko has the talent to be a success at Old Trafford if given the right service, but could struggle in the short-term given that Ruben Amorim failed to bring in a playmaker during the summer transfer window.

Saha said: “I think he’s capable if the manager managed to get that link between midfield and striker,

“Unfortunately we didn’t get the midfielder we wanted. So we’re still very weak in that department. And this is why I think Sesko will struggle maybe a little bit until we get that sorted.

“He’s got the quality because he’s tall, he’s going to score goals in the air, and he’s very technical as well.”

United did manage to sign two Premier League-proven forwards in the form of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, who should be able to provide more goals this season, with the latter player opening his account against Burnley last time out.

However, Amorim’s side have also now entered the race for a different attacking midfielder, according to a report from Spain, which states Man United are looking to sign Barcelona’s Dro Fernandez, who has started to attract widespread interest.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea are among the clubs set to battle it out for Fernandez’s services, having impressed in youth competitions, while the 17-year-old’s versatility also makes signing him an attractive proposition.

53 y/o manager Man Utd's top target to replace Amorim, has won 11 trophies

An “unbelievable” manager has now entered the frame as United’s first-choice option to replace Ruben Amorim.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 10, 2025

That said, it could be difficult to tempt the La Liga champions into a sale, given that they are thought to be reluctant to sanction the highly-rated youngster’s departure.

Fernandez could be the new Thiago

The teenager’s former coaches, Javi Roxo and Luis Perez, believe he could be destined for the very top, having compared him to former Barcelona midfielder Thiago, saying: “Dro is a talent of Thiago’s level, I have not seen anyone as technical as Thiago but Dro’s vision of the game is even superior.

“If he relieves himself of pressure and plays freely, he is capable of anything, his talent is infinite.”

The young Spaniard, who is capable of playing in attacking midfield and on the left-wing, is yet to make a senior appearance for Barca, but he has started to make an impact at youth level, scoring two goals in seven UEFA Youth League games last season.

That said, while Fernandez may be capable of being a future star, Man United’s main focus in January should be bringing in an established central midfielder, having missed out in the summer, with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba among the most exciting targets.